April exports of US beef were below the volumes recorded a year ago but there are positive developments in play, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Through the first four months of 2016, beef exports were steady with last year’s pace in volume, but fell 13 per cent in value.

“Although volumes were lower year-over-year, we did see encouraging signs in the April export results,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng.

“For US beef, improvement in Mexico and other Western Hemisphere markets was a very positive development. USMEF has worked closely with the retail and foodservice sectors to promote under-utilised cuts and overcome our price challenges in these markets, and those efforts are definitely paying dividends.” – Click here to read more.

In the UK, the risk of Bluetongue spread from France will start to increase with daily average temperatures heading into summer, concludes the latest situation report from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Bluetongue has been spreading around France for some time, and the country has now reported 285 outbreaks, according to APHA's report.

Vaccine has been made available for the UK market from July onwards, but the decision to vaccinate should be with the farmer, in consultation with their private veterinary surgeon, APHA said – read more.

About The Series
The Cow Signals series presents practical knowledge about animal oriented dairy cattle husbandry in an accessible fashion.

Cows send out signals continuously about their health, well being, nutrition and production. The challenge for every dairy farmer is how to interpret these signals and use them. Knowing what to look for enables farmers to pick up these signals everywhere and anytime. Cow Signals explains how to identify these cues.

Randall Lineback Cattle - The Breed that Saved America
The Randall Lineback is among the oldest breeds of cattle in the US with origins back to the Pilgrim Fathers. The Randall family in Sunderland, Vermont had sustained this heritage breed since 1912, writes John Wilkes.

Diverging Consumer Demands Put Contradictory Pressures on Producers, Says Prof. David Hughes
UK - “Quite clearly, the future is bright for animal-derived protein consumption. However, the further polarization of consumer demands presents a real challenge for the livestock and dairy industry,” warned Prof. David Hughes, Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London.
Livestock Event: The Open Forums
UK - Farmers will be able question industry influencers at two Open Forums sessions hosted by Barclays at the Livestock Event, held at The NEC on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July.
Nutriad Introduces MYCOMAN®: Mobile App for Mycotoxin Management
GLOBAL - Mycotoxins in cereal crops affect the health and performance of animals all around the world. Changing quality and availability of raw materials lead to an increasing need for efficient ways of measuring the level of mycotoxin contamination, allowing producers to respond quickly.